Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis was ejected from Game 4 of his team’s first-round playoff series versus the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night after a scrap with Andrew Nembhard. Portis was given two technical fouls for his actions during the incident, which occurred in the middle of the first quarter. The Bucks would go on to lose, 126-113, and are now down 3-1 in the series.
“It was a tough break for us, no doubt about it,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “Doesn’t matter how long you’re in the league, you can still learn. All of us can. I thought it will probably be a lesson for Bobby and all of us, for our young guys. Playoff games are high emotion, they really are. So, that happened and you can’t get it back once it happened.”
Just a few minutes into the game, Khris Middleton drove to the basket and drew a foul on Aaron Nesmith. As Middleton’s shot went up, Portis and Nembhard got tangled up under the basket. Nembhard initially hooked Portis’ arm, and the two traded shoves. Then, Portis re-engaged and hit Nembhard in the head with a sort of open-handed slap.
Bobby Portis has been ejected after a scuffle with Nembhard
Bucks are now playing without him, Dame, and Giannis 😳 pic.twitter.com/EPP2Yina3G
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 28, 2024 After everyone had been separated, the referees went to the monitor to review the situation. They assessed each player a technical for the initial shoving match, then gave Portis another technical for his secondary act and ejected him from the game.
Portis, who was a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year this season, had been moved into the starting lineup during this series due to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury. Though he didn’t shoot the ball very well in the first three games, he recorded a double-double in every game and was averaging 15.3 points and 13.3 rebounds.
With Damian Lillard also sidelined on Sunday due to an Achilles injury he suffered in Game 3, the Bucks were planning to rely heavily on Portis in Game 4. Before he left the game, he had already scored four points and put up four shots in seven minutes of action. While the Bucks ended up shooting the ball extremely well in the first half, they ran out of gas after the break, in large part because of Portis’ absence.
Despite having cruised to a win in Game 1, the Bucks have lost the three past games, including an overtime heartbreaker in Game 3. A second consecutive first-round exit is now in play as they return home for Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch was helped off the court late in the fourth quarter of Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night after a scary collision with his point guard, Mike Conley. The team later confirmed that Finch tore his patellar tendon in his right leg.
The Timberwolves held on for a 122-116 win to complete a sweep of their first-round series and advance to second round for the first time since 2004.
With just under two minutes remaining, Conley was dribbling up the sideline when he got bumped and fouled by Devin Booker. Conley’s momentum carried him off the court, where he crashed into Finch, who collapsed to the ground. Finch appeared to cry out in pain and grabbed for his knee.
Timberwolves HC Chris Finch had to be helped off the court after a collision with Mike Conley.
(via @TSN_Sports) pic.twitter.com/bFqdB23m3A
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 29, 2024 Minnesota’s players and coaches made a circle around Finch, who remained on the ground for a brief period under the care of the team’s medical staff. Eventually, he was lifted to his feet and helped back to the locker room with 1:41 remaining in the game. Assistant coach Micah Nori assumed control of the team for the remainder of the game.
“I didn’t see him at first, I was just trying to push the ball up the floor and Book hip checked me out of bounds,” Conley said. “Prayers up for him. I’m sure he’ll be fine. We’ll do it for him and we’ll keep it moving.”
Nori said during his post-game press conference that Finch was in good spirits after the game and the entire team went to the medical room to check on him.
“With the way Finchy does things and the way we’ve done things all season long, everybody has their roles, everybody has each other’s back,” Nori said. “I know it sounds cliche-ish and corny but it’s just next man up, even with the coaching staff… I would never say business as usual, because Finchy does a phenomenal job, just trying to carry over what he’s been doing.”
THIS IS FOR YOU, COACH 🫶 pic.twitter.com/KOXL30aoBw
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 29, 2024 The Timberwolves were up 117-113 when Finch departed and outscored the Suns 5-3 the rest of the way to hold on for one of the biggest wins in franchise history. This is the first sweep ever for the Timberwolves, and just the third playoff series they have ever won.
They will now face the winner of the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets have a 3-1 lead in that series with Game 5 set for Monday night. The timing for the Timberwolves’ next series will depend on when the Nuggets and Lakers wrap up their matchup.
At this point, it’s too early to know whether Finch will be available to coach Game 1 of the second round.
This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.
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The Timberwolves and the Suns played hundreds of possessions in the first round, but two in particular, when the visitors needed it most in Game 4, encapsulated the entire series.
Trailing 113-111 with under three minutes left, Kevin Durant got great post position against Mike Conley, who’s nearly a foot shorter. Easy scoring opportunity, right? Wrong: a timely double-team thwarted one of the greatest offensive players ever. He kicked it out. Should be an open shot, right? Wrong: a perfect defensive rotation forced Phoenix to swing the ball around. And when Bradley Beal broke the defense down and tried to kick it out, Nickeil Alexander-Walker intercepted it.
Down they went to the other end. Anthony Edwards sized up Beal and blew by him like he didn’t exist before unleashing a ferocious dunk on Durant, the type of dunk that leaves you half in stunned silence and half wanting to stand up and scream “Ohhhhh!” at your TV. I don’t even remember which one I did.
Game. Set. Match. The Suns never got any closer.
Edwards is a superstar — not a star, a superstar — and you will not see a more competitive superstar on both ends. His Timberwolves are a force. Minnesota finished off its first sweep in franchise history and first series win since 2004 with a 122-116 win in Phoenix.
Edwards scored 31 of his 40 points after halftime. Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points. Jaden McDaniels had 18 and is among the league’s most disruptive wing defenders. It’s fitting he leads the league’s best defense. The Timberwolves got swept by the Suns in the regular season but completely flipped the script in the playoffs, using their size, physicality and doggedness to dominate a top-heavy Suns team.
It’s the most impressive first-round performance by far. And they’re coming for more. Let’s hope Chris Finch can coach whatever comes next after a brutal late-game collision with Conley.
What’s more: Colin Ward-Henninger writes that in a world without deep playoff runs from the likes of Stephen Curry, Durant and LeBron James, coupled with the emphatic performances of the game’s younger stars, it sure feels like the NBA’s unofficial changing of the guard is officially underway.
Ward-Henninger: “… the youth movement is thriving, starting with Edwards in all his charismatic bravado. The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, led by 25-year-old MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, became the first team in NBA history to have all of their points scored by players age 25 or younger in a playoff game. Another 25-year-old MVP finalist, Luka Doncic, helms what was the hottest team in the Western Conference entering the postseason.” 👍 Honorable mentions Jalen Brunson scored a Knicks playoff-record 47 points in a 97-92 win over the 76ers that put New York up 3-1. Brunson is hungry for much, much more, James Herbert writes from Philadelphia. James Harden and Paul George have had plenty of playoff clunkers, but Sunday’s Game 4 against the Mavericks wasn’t one of them. The Clippers blew a 31-point lead but staved off disaster thanks to 33 points from both Harden and George in a 116-111 win. Harden scored 13 points over the final five minutes and was “vintage Harden,” writes Colin Ward-Henninger. Is Aaron Judge finally heating up? Wyatt Langford’s first career home run was inside the park. The White Sox swept the Rays. Yes, really. The Braves remain atop Matt Snyder’s MLB Power Rankings. New Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman is absolutely hilarious. Five-star freshman Dylan Raiola starred in Nebraska’s spring game. The Rangers are into the second round after sweeping the Capitals. UNC added Cade Tyson. Kentucky added Andrew Carr to wrap up a productive weekend. Mark Daigneault won Coach of the Year. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry won the Zurich Classic. Denny Hamlin won the Wurth 400. Here are the Kentucky Derby post positions. ⛅ And not such a good morning for … untitled-design-2024-04-28t225122-639.png Getty Images THE PHOENIX SUNS
We’ll make this quick. The Suns were no match for the Timberwolves. They weren’t tough or strong enough, they didn’t work hard enough, and they simply didn’t have enough. Devin Booker (49 points) and Kevin Durant (33 points) were terrific. The rest of the team, and especially Beal (4-for-13 shooting, nine points, six turnovers, fouled out), no-showed.
After Game 3, Brad Botkin wrote Durant’s superteam efforts failing over and over. And after an embarrassing sweep, Sam Quinn says the superteam era is done, and Phoenix’s future is bleak.
Quinn: “If this all sounds grim … well … yeah. It should. This is bleak. It is one of the bleakest sets of circumstances facing any team in the NBA right now. It’s only going to get bleaker … There’s no obvious pivot or strategic approach that can fix this for the Suns. They misunderstood where the league was when they traded for Beal and they misunderstood where it was going when they traded for Durant. … The most likely outcome here is that the Suns were simply wrong.” 👎 Not so honorable mentions The Bucks, already without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, saw Bobby Portis get ejected in Milwaukee’s 126-113 Game 4 loss to the Pacers. Down 3-1, the Bucks are on the brink of elimination, and their luck couldn’t have been any worse, Jack Maloney writes. Kawhi Leonard (knee inflammation) missed Game 4 and has no timetable for a return. His extension looks disastrous, Brad writes. Joel Embiid was not happy with the number of Knicks fans in Philadelphia. Matt Stafford is not happy with his contract. Tank Dell suffered minor injuries as an innocent bystander in a shooting. Unlike 2024, the 2025 draft is not loaded for quarterbacks. The Rockies just hit a new Rocky Mountain low. 🏈 NFL Draft: Winners, losers, grades and ranking young QB situations Getty Images The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone — here’s every single pick — and our experts have assessed who did the best. One team, and one team only, got an “A+” in Pete Prisco’s grades — the Washington Commanders.
Prisco: “Best Pick: It was their first one, quarterback Jayden Daniels. I think he will be the best quarterback from this draft. They locked up a franchise passer with pick No. 2. He will be dynamic. … The Skinny: In his first year running the draft, general manager Adam Peters killed it. … I liked all their second-round picks in defensive tackle Johnny Newton, corner Mike Sainristil and tight end Ben Sinnott. They drafted a lot of talented football players.” Chris Trapasso also graded every team, including grades for every single player. Yes, all 257. Three teams earned an “A” from Chris.
Not everyone did well, though. Will Brinson turned in his winners and losers, and the biggest loser from last year’s draft (so far) didn’t do well this year, either, in his estimation.
Listen, it’s brutal to have to analyze drafts immediately after they happen. I applaud Pete, Chris and Will for doing it. There will always be opinions that age like milk. There will be takes that age like fine wine, too. That comes with the territory. No one thought Tom Brady would be an A++++++++++++++.
So I’ll stick my neck out with a few drafts I liked/disliked, too.
I liked the Ravens. Cornerbacks Nate Wiggins (first round) and T.J. Tampa (fourth, even though he had a second-round grade) could play immediately. So could tackle Roger Rosengarten. Both were huge positions of need for Baltimore. I liked the Cowboys. Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe could be early starters. Guyton has tremendous potential thanks to his athleticism and build, and Dallas is excellent at molding potential into results. Marshawn Kneeland was a late riser who augments the pass rush. I disliked the Panthers. I’m not sure about Xavier Legette over some other receivers who were available, and Carolina traded up for him. Carolina also traded up for Jonathan Brooks, adding to an already-crowded running back room. Don’t get me wrong: I like Brooks, I just don’t like the resources the Panthers used to get him. But did I like the Ja’Tavion Sanders pick! But, hey, go ahead. Roast me.
Here’s more from the weekend:
Ranking recent young quarterbacks’ situations Rick Spielman’s favorite pick for every team Best fits for remaining free agents Veteran cut candidates Don’t forget the undrafted guys! 🏀 Candace Parker retires; Kiki Iriafen to USC; WNBA training camps open Getty Images From hellos to goodbyes and plenty in between, there was a ton of action across women’s basketball this weekend.
Let’s start with a bittersweet goodbye. Candace Parker called it a career, and what a career it was. Across 16 seasons with the Sparks, Sky and Aces …
6,574 points (ninth all-time) 3,467 rebounds (third all-time) Seven-time All-Star Two-time MVP (2008, 2016) 2016 Finals MVP Only player in WNBA history to win a championship with three different franchises The last of those three came with Las Vegas this past season, though she struggled with a foot injury, and that played a part in her decision.
The announcement came the same day WNBA training camps opened. The preseason begins May 3, and the regular season starts May 14. Here are all of the key dates.
Jack has one big question for every team.
As for the future of the league, two potential future No. 1 picks are teaming up at USC. Kiki Iriafen transferred to USC, where she’ll join JuJu Watkins. Iriafen averaged 19.4 points and 11 rebounds last season, highlighted by a 41-point effort against Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament.
📺 What we’re watching Monday 🏒 Game 5: Lightning at Panthers, 7 p.m. on ESPN 🏀 Game 4: Celtics at Heat, 7:30 p.m. on TNT ⚾ Twins at White Sox, 7:40 p.m. on FS1 🏀 Game 4: Thunder at Pelicans, 8:30 p.m. on NBA TV 🏒 Game 4: Stars at Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN 🏀 Game 5: Lakers at Nuggets, 10 p.m. on TNT
This week, a judge in Georgia declined to dismiss the lawsuit against former NBA All-Star Dwight Howard, alleging sexual assault and battery, per ESPN. The lawsuit, filed by Stephen Harper in July 2023, alleges that Howard sexually assaulted him at Harper’s home in July 2021. Howard and his attorneys have argued that the encounter was consensual.
The Gwinnett County judge also made a ruling to seal an exhibit that, according to Howard’s lawyers, included sexually explicit messages.
“My comment, at this time, is that we are glad the court denied Mr. Howard’s motion and look forward to proving our client’s case,” Olga Izmaylova, Harper’s attorney, told ESPN.
“Justice will prevail and we fully trust in our justice system and the process,” Justin Bailey, one of Howard’s attorneys, told ESPN. “This order is a part of the process. We will engage in discovery and will further prove our case, and when the time is right, we will let our future pleadings speak for themselves.”
In December, Howard filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it was “frivolous” and “nothing more than a classic case of unrequited love.” That filing centered on text messages between the two men. It alleges that some messages were deleted and others in the initial complaint were doctored. Howard’s camp submitted screenshots of text messages that were not previously entered into the record.
“In short, the totality of the text messages between Mr. Howard and Mr. Harper make it abundantly clear that Mr. Harper’s claims are frivolous, that he was a willing participant in the events of July 19, 2021, and the early morning hours of July 20, 2021, and that the touching of his person had been invited by him,” Howard’s lawyers wrote.
“More importantly, the explicit messages not only show consent but also that Mr. Harper was initiating some of the sexual contact. Mr. Harper not only invited the initial experience, but tried to initiate a second encounter because the first was so enjoyable. As it is undisputed that Mr. Harper consented to the touching between him and Mr. Howard, Mr. Harper’s claims necessarily fail, and Mr. Howard is entitled to summary judgment as the clear consent negates the essential element of intent and the claims of Assault, Battery, False Imprisonment, and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress fall like a house of cards.”
Harper’s lawyers responded in January 2024, per ESPN, arguing that the case has “nothing to do with unrequited love” and asking the judge for a trial in front of a jury.
In July, Harper – who has agreed to be named publicly – filed a civil suit against Howard alleging assault and battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress relating to a 2021 encounter. Harper initially reported the alleged assault to police in Gwinnett County, Georgia, in July of 2022, but never gave a formal interview to the police, who eventually suspended the case. As a result, there are currently no criminal charges filed against Howard.
According to the lawsuit, Harper says he met Howard on Instagram and agreed to meet at Howard’s home for a sexual encounter. While traveling there, Harper says Howard asked if another man or woman could join, which Harper declined. However, upon arrival, another man, identified only as “Kitty” was there. Howard and “Kitty” allegedly then forced Harper to participate in sexual activity.
Per the lawsuit, “Mr. Harper was trapped in Defendant’s bedroom and believed that he would suffer imminent bodily harm if he resisted Defendant’s sexual advances. Mr. Harper felt extremely violated and humiliated and was in complete shock.”
A response filed by Howard’s lawyer in October stated that the three men all agreed to “engage in consensual sexual activity.” Howard is asking for a summary judgment — a judgment entered by a court without a full trial — and for court costs and attorney fees to be paid by Harper.
One of Howard’s lawyers provided an additional statement to ESPN on Oct. 25:
“What was a private consensual encounter was made public for profit and Mr. Howard looks forward to bringing the truth to light in a court of law. The allegations against Mr. Howard are contested. Mr. Howard intends to present the truth. The truth is Mr. Howard blocked Mr. Harper on social media and then was confronted with two options — pay to protect his reputation or have a fabricated story made public. Despite being an easy target due to the subject matter and his status as a celebrity, Mr. Howard chose to trust in the justice system and will rely on all future court filings to speak for themselves.”
Howard addressed the accusations in an Instagram Live on Oct. 26:
“Stop worrying about it. I ain’t gotta deny it, I don’t gotta talk about none of that crap. This s— didn’t even happen. You worried about the wrong stuff. That’s why it’s called an accusation. Allegedly. Come on, man.”
Howard most recently played in Taiwan. The eight-time NBA All-Star was drafted by the Magic in 2004 and played for seven different organizations over 18 seasons. He was part of the Lakers’ 2019-20 championship squad and he last played in the NBA in 2022 during a third stint with the Lakers.
The New York Knicks (33-22) and the Philadelphia 76ers (32-22) square off in an Atlantic Division battle on Thursday. This is the second matchup of the season between these organizations, and on Jan. 5, New York beat Philadelphia 128-92. The Knicks are the fourth seed in the East, while the 76ers sit as the fifth seed. OG Anunoby (elbow) and Julius Randle (shoulder) remain out for New York, while Joel Embiid (knee) and De’Anthony Melton (back) are sidelined for Philadelphia.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The 76ers are a 1-point favorite in the latest Knicks vs. 76ers odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 228.5. Before making any 76ers vs. Knicks picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 60-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Knicks vs. 76ers. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for 76ers vs. Knicks:
Knicks vs. 76ers spread: Philadelphia -1 Knicks vs. 76ers over/under: 228.5 points Knicks vs. 76ers money line: Philadelphia -115, New York -105 PHI: The Sixers are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games NYK: The Knicks are 0-6 ATS in their last six games Knicks vs. 76ers picks: See picks at SportsLine Why the Knicks can cover Forward Bojan Bogdanovic was recently acquired from the Detroit Pistons, and he brings a knockdown jumper to New York. Additionally, the 34-year-old puts the ball on the deck to attack the rim. He puts up 19.7 points, 2.4 assists, and shoots 41% from downtown. In his last outing, Bogdanovic had 15 points and four boards.
Forward Josh Hart is another energetic force who is a menace on the boards despite being 6-foot-4. He will finish around the rim but can knock down shots on the outside when needed. The 28-year-old averages 7.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. In the Feb. 12 loss to the Rockets, Hart notched 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the 76ers can cover Guard Tyrese Maxey is now thrust into a larger role with Embiid (knee) sidelined. Maxey uses his quickness to penetrate the paint and owns a soft touch around the rim. The Kentucky product utilizes his reliable jumper to knock down perimeter shots. Maxey logs 25.7 points and a team-high 6.4 assists per contest. On Feb. 14 versus the Heat, he racked up 30 points, six rebounds, and seven assists.
Forward Tobias Harris provides Philadelphia with a calm three-level scorer. Harris can create mismatches. His speed gives power forwards fits and has the post-up game to overpower smaller defenders. The Tennessee product averages 17.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. In the Feb. 9 matchup against the Hawks, Harris had 21 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make 76ers vs. Knicks picks SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 234 points. The model also says one side hits in almost 60% of simulations. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
With his ability to stuff the stat sheet, Luka Doncic is a frequent target with NBA prop bets whenever the Mavericks take the court. They’ll do so at home on Thursday against Kevin Durant and the Suns. Doncic has 30 double-doubles across 47 games this season, but Phoenix has done a great job of limiting his effect on the box score in recent matchups. Doncic has just one double-double across his last 11 games versus the Suns but still carries -333 NBA prop odds to log a double-double on Thursday.
Based on recent history, this appears to be an NBA player prop to steer clear of. However, there are lots of other prop bets involving Doncic, Durant, Kyrie Irving and Devin Booker which are much more appealing. With 24 teams in action on Thursday, there is no shortage of favorable NBA prop lines that you could combine into a parlay bet. Before making any NBA prop picks on sites like PrizePicks for Thursday, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 60-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
For Thursday’s NBA schedule, the model has locked in its NBA best bets. You can only see the model’s NBA prop picks at SportsLine.
Top NBA prop bet for Thursday After simulating every game on Thursday’s NBA schedule 10,000 times, the model is picking Under 30.5 points for Warriors guard Stephen Curry at -125 odds. Ever since scoring a season-high of 60 points versus Atlanta on Feb. 3, Curry’s seen a slight downtick in scoring. He’s gone under 30.5 points in five of his seven games since then, averaging 27.4 points over that stretch. Coming off an extended break thanks to All-Star Weekend, it’s also important to note that Curry is averaging 26.8 points this season when he’s coming off at least three days of rest.
The Warriors host the Lakers tonight, and L.A. has ramped up its defensive efforts as of late. It is allowing just 113.9 PPG in February, which puts it in the top 10 of the NBA, compared to 117.6 PPG allowed prior to this month. The Lakers can also lock down on individual high scorers as they didn’t allow an opposing player to reach even 20 points scored in their last two contests before the All-Star break. The model sees value in under 30.5 points (-125) as it projects Curry to finish with 28.2 points. You can see which other NBA picks to back here.
All NBA prop bets for Thursday See Magic vs. Cavaliers props here See Pistons vs. Pacers props here See Knicks vs. 76ers props here See Nets vs. Raptors props here See Suns vs. Mavericks props here See Celtics vs. Bulls props here See Rockets vs. Pelicans props here See Clippers vs. Thunder props here See Wizards vs. Nuggets props here See Hornets vs. Jazz props here See Lakers vs. Warriors props here See Spurs vs. Kings props here
How to make NBA prop picks for Thursday The model has simulated every NBA game 10,000 times and has some surprising projections for Thursday’s schedule. You can only see the model’s NBA best bets and SGP picks at SportsLine.
One thing we can be certain about with a team coached by Tom Thibodeau is that his players are going to log heavy minutes every night. It’s not unusual to see Jalen Brunson play over 40 minutes on a consistent basis, in fact, he’s done it six times already this season, including in back-to-back games where he logged 41 minutes each to end 2023. Playing that many minutes consistently requires a certain level of conditioning, but for new Knicks forward OG Anunoby, the heavy minutes he’s logged since being traded from the Raptors are nothing new to him.
“In Toronto, I played like 58 minutes one game — I’ve played a lot of minutes before, I’m used to this,” Anunoby said after logging 43 minutes in back-to-back games this week.
When Anunoby was in Toronto, he, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet often ranked near the top of the league in minutes per game. In fact, during the 2021-22 season, the three of them all ranked in the top 10 with Siakam and VanVleet claiming the first two spots, while Anunoby wasn’t too far behind at seventh with 36 minutes a game. So he’s literally built to withstand major minutes, which likely has Thibodeau salivating at the thought of having a guy on the roster who he can throw out there for almost an entire game without him getting gassed.
When asked how he knew Anunoby could handle playing 86 total minutes in back-to-back games, Thibodeau pointed to his experience with the Raptors.
“He played in Toronto,” Thibodeau said. “Sometimes that’s what’s called for, so you do what you think is called for. In the end, the minutes will be where the minutes are, and right now we gotta find our way as we’re adjusting. Find a way to win, build our rhythm, concentrate on improvement and it takes some time. That’s where we are, just go day by day and some guys are playing big minutes, we’re shorthanded that’s what happens.”
CBS Sports HQ Newsletter We bring sports news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and get a winning edge.
I agree to receive the “CBS Sports HQ Newsletter” and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge Paramount’s Privacy Policy. Email Address Shorthanded or not, though, playing Anunoby for that many minutes is almost necessary for the Knicks. Since he joined the team on Jan. 1, the Knicks have gone 8-2, and Anunoby’s plus-170 over the last 10 games ranks second in the league during that span behind only Brunson. He’s fit perfectly alongside the rest of New York’s starting lineup, and he’s the key reason the Knicks have been so successful since the turn of the calendar year. So I doubt we’ll see his minutes decrease any time soon.
The Golden State Warriors need to shuffle their roster, but it’s not clear how they intend to do so. They can make a move at the trade deadline or wait until this summer — when Klay Thompson and Chris Paul both come off the books — to take a clearer look at where and how they can improve.
One of the players the Warriors were long believed to be interested in trading for was Pascal Siakam — who went to the Pacers from the Raptors in a blockbuster on Wednesday. But according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the interest, at least long term, was not mutual.
“The Warriors were interested [in Siakam],” Amick said on The Athletic’s NBA Show podcast. “I don’t think [Siakam] was excited abut anything beyond this season with [the Warriors].”
If this doesn’t tell you how far the Warriors have fallen, nothing will. There was a time when players would have fallen over themselves for a chance to play with Stephen Curry and company. But everyone can see the end is near.
Siakam had leverage over where he was traded because he’s set to become a free agent this summer. No team was going to give up real assets for a guy who might walk for nothing in a few months. That’s why teams like the Warriors, and Pacers, needed to know whether Siakam was in it for the long haul before moving on him.
These things aren’t supposed to be discussed, of course. But let’s not play dumb. Of course these things are talked about. The Warriors asked, in one way or another, if Siakam would stay with them beyond this season, and they clearly got their answer.
It would’ve been impossible to imagine even a few years ago that a player in the prime of his career would choose the Pacers over the Warriors, but it makes sense. Indiana, led by emerging MVP candidate Tyrese Haliburton, is on its way up. Golden State is going the other way, and might be about to bottom out.
So again, what do the Warriors do now? Siakam would’ve been a nice fit, as he would be pretty much anywhere, but was probably going to be too expensive to get anyway. The Warriors only have two trade-eligible draft picks (2026 and 2028) at the moment, and to even have the 2026 pick they would have to remove the 2024 1-4 protection that is currently on that pick, which is owed to the Blazers.
Those draft picks, which could well end up in the lottery if/when the Warriors keep trending downward, are almost certainly more valuable than the three picks the Pacers gave up, which will likely land in the 20s as Indiana figures to be a solid playoff team, at least, for years to come.
But again, those picks are vitally important to the Warriors, who did not maximize the opportunity they had to build a bridge to their next era with three lottery picks in two years, which they spent on James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. You can only give them up if you are honestly going to bring back a player that significantly moves your needle toward title contention. Siakam is good, but he’s not that good.
In that way, it might be a blessing that Siakam stiff armed the Warriors, who might’ve been just desperate enough to get in over their heads in the coming weeks.
The Philadelphia 76ers aim to keep it rolling on Friday night at the Kia Center. Joel Embiid and the 76ers visit the Orlando Magic for an Eastern Conference matchup, and the 76ers have won three straight games. The Magic are 22-19 overall and 13-5 at home this season, while the Sixers are 26-13 overall and 10-7 on the road. Franz Wagner (ankle) and Gary Harris (calf) are out for the Magic, while De’Anthony Melton (back) is out for the 76ers.
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Sixers as 5-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 222.5 in the latest 76ers vs. Magic odds. Before making any Magic vs. 76ers picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 13 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 42-23 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Sixers vs. Magic and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Magic vs. Sixers:
76ers vs. Magic spread: 76ers -5 76ers vs. Magic over/under: 222.5 points 76ers vs. Magic money line: 76ers -210, Magic +173 PHI: The 76ers are 10-7 against the spread in road games ORL: The Magic are 12-5 against the spread in home games 76ers vs. Magic picks: See picks at SportsLine Why the 76ers can cover Philadelphia is a dynamic offensive team, headlined by Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, but the 76ers also have strong defensive bonafides. The 76ers are 23-6 with Embiid in the lineup this season, and he is the primary rim protector for a team that ranks in the top five of the NBA in defensive rating (111.5). Philadelphia is No. 1 in the league in 3-point accuracy allowed (33.8%) and opponents are shooting only 46.3% from the field against the Sixers. Philadelphia is also leading the NBA with 9.1 steals per game, helping the 76ers to produce 14.8 turnovers per game.
The 76ers can also take advantage of an Orlando offense with clear weaknesses. The Magic are dead-last in the NBA in 3-point accuracy (34.0%) on offense, and Orlando is in the bottom five of the league in free throw accuracy (75.3%) and assists (24.6 per game). From there, Embiid is leading the league in scoring (35.1 points per game), and the 76ers are scoring more than 1.19 points per possession to rank in the top five of the league. Philadelphia is also in the top three in free throw creation (27.2 attempts per game), free throw accuracy (83.7%), and turnover rate (12.4%). See which team to pick here.
Why the Magic can cover Orlando is 13-5 at home this season, out-scoring opponents by 7.3 points per 100 possessions at Kia Center. That provides a strong baseline for the Magic, and Orlando has a key piece in Paolo Banchero. The talented forward is averaging 22.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game this season, including 27.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in the last 11 contests. Orlando is in the top 10 of the NBA in free throw creation, offensive rebound rate, second-chance points and points in the paint on offense. The Magic also remain stout on defense.
The Magic are allowing only 111.1 points per 100 possessions this season, ranking in the top three of the NBA in overall defensive efficiency. Orlando is in the top five of the league in defensive rebound rate (72.7%) and second-chance points allowed (12.9 per game), utilizing size and athleticism with effectiveness. The Magic also create havoc on a consistent basis, generating 8.3 steals per game and creating 15.3 turnovers per contest. With opponents also shooting only 35.3% from 3-point range against Orlando, the Magic are difficult to score against in myriad ways. See which team to pick here.
How to make Magic vs. 76ers picks SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 226 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can only see the model’s picks at SportsLine.
A potential NBA Finals preview could take place on Friday night when the Boston Celtics host the Denver Nuggets. Boston has the best record in the NBA (32-9), including a perfect 20-0 mark at home. Could the Nuggets, the defending NBA champions, be the team to hand the Celtics their first loss in Boston? With seven games on the NBA schedule for Friday, should daily Fantasy basketball utilize options in the NBA DFS player pool from this matchup like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Nikola Jokic or Jamal Murray in NBA DFS lineups?
Celtics guard Derrick White had 22 points in a 105-96 win over the Raptors on Monday after failing to break the 20-point mark in any of his first seven January contests. White averaged 20.3 ppg in December, so can daily Fantasy basketball players expect the 29-year-old guard to return to his December form when creating an NBA DFS strategy? Before making your NBA DFS picks, be sure to check out the NBA DFS advice, player rankings, stacks, and top daily Fantasy basketball picks from SportsLine’s Jimmie Kaylor.
Kaylor is a DFS and betting expert for SportsLine, who won a DraftKings Millionaire Maker contest in 2022. He uses a combination of his background as a former college and professional athlete and his keen eye for statistical trends when making his picks and locking in his DFS lineups. Kaylor enters the 2024 calendar year with multiple five-figure tournament cashes on his DFS resume.
Kaylor’s approach allows him to find the best NBA DFS values and create optimal lineups that he only shares on SportsLine. They’re a must-see for any NBA DFS player.
On Wednesday (when he last published picks), Kaylor highlighted Lakers power forward/center Anthony Davis as one of his top picks in his NBA DFS player pool on both sites. The result: Davis had 28 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, returning 61.5 points on DraftKings and 60.9 points on FanDuel. Anybody who included him in their lineups was well on the way to a profitable day.
Kaylor has turned his attention to NBA action on Friday and locked in his top daily Fantasy basketball picks. You can only see them by heading to SportsLine.
Top NBA DFS picks for Friday, January 19 For Friday, one of Kaylor’s top NBA DFS picks is Heat center Bam Adebayo, who is listed at $8,700 on DraftKings and $9,300 on FanDuel. Adebayo has been a rebounding machine as of late, averaging 11.7 rebounds over his last 10 contests, including a 20-rebound performance in a 96-95 overtime victory against the Nets on Monday. He’s also averaging 21.1 points over that stretch.
The Heat play the Hawks on Friday, and with Atlanta missing Trae Young (illness), there may be even more rebounding opportunities with a key scorer out. Adebayo is averaging 23.7 points and 11 rebounds over his last six matchups against the Hawks. Atlanta has the third-worst scoring defense in the NBA, allowing 123 ppg, including 124.1 ppg over the last eight contests. The Hawks are also allowing the third-most points in the paint (56.2 ppg), which plays to Adebayo’s strengths.
Another part of Kaylor’s optimal NBA DFS strategy includes Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon ($6,100 on DraftKings and $6,400 on FanDuel). Gordon (shoulder) is probable for Friday after scoring 16 points with six rebounds and four assists in a 126-121 loss to the 76ers on Tuesday. He had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the previous contest, and he’s been one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA this month. Gordon is averaging 15.9 points on 67.1% shooting over his last eight contests.
Gordon has scored at least 17 points in three of his last four contests against the Celtics. The 10-year NBA veteran averaged 16.3 ppg last season, the second-best of his career, and is averaging 14.1 ppg this year. He’s a reliable player who won’t break your NBA DFS budget and could outperform his price tag for Friday’s NBA DFS lineups. See Kaylor’s other NBA DFS picks right here.
How to set your NBA DFS lineups for Friday, January 19 Kaylor is also targeting a player who could go off for massive numbers on Friday because of a dream matchup. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.
